A relative of mine living in Montana claims to have a “centrist-leaning-right” perspective. I sent a text to this relative asking for her thoughts about President Trump and the Republicans as leaders of the nation. I asked her whether she was content with where the nation is going and whether we would be a democracy in three years and how well Republicans aligned with her Christian beliefs.
Here’s what she texted me: “I don’t like Trump’s attitude or mouth but I do like stopping wars, lowering gas, securing the border and having his finger on the MN/government waste and fraud….” In a later text she stated that “What happened to R. Good was Tragic! Unnecessary. A life lost. But you never asked. Did you mourn for Charlie Kirk or write about that?”
What fascinates me is what people with differing perspectives emphasize.
In contrast, I had the death of Renee Good and ICE actions in Minnesota foremost on my mind. After the shooting death, Vice President Vance publicly stated that ICE officers have “absolute immunity” in carrying out their immigration tasks. I was shocked to learn that the DOJ has no plans to prosecute or even investigate the actions of the shooter, ICE Officer Jonathan Ross. My relative was concerned about Zohran Mamdani (the newly elected “democratic socialist” mayor of NYC) and AOC (Anastasia Ocasio-Cortez, New York’s ultra-liberal U.S. representative). They “give me hives”.
I don’t believe either of these elected officials are being realistic. I don’t think most of their platforms will work. But they do represent part of the U.S. electorate who voted them into office. That’s democracy. My fear is that AOC will become our next president in 2028 due to over-reaction to our current president’s behavior.
It seems my relative equates Democrats with socialism. She states she does not want “socialism” for her daughters and grandchildren. My concern is that my children and grandchildren will live under a dictatorship where our freedoms and constitutional rights to due process and equal protection under the law will be taken from us and where the uber wealthy will continue to control the nation
She stated: “Anti-Trumpers have gone overboard! Dressing in costumes, singing weird songs and saying ‘No Kings’ while they support Venezuela dictators.”
My reaction is that those dinosaurs and singers and NO KINGS demonstrators are exercising their First Amendment free speech rights. They are not violating any laws and are peaceably protesting what are clearly unconstitutional presidential actions. They’re not masked officers breaking into people’s homes without search warrants, or grabbing individuals off the streets, throwing them to the ground and handcuffing them and then stuffing them into unmarked cars to be “disappeared” without being able to contact their families or have the right to be represented by an attorney.
Montana is a deeply red state while Washington is deeply blue, especially in the Puget Sound region. What fascinates me is that the differing views of people seem to depend a great deal upon geography. Where someone lives affects their attitudes and perceptions.
My relative favored the kidnapping of the Maduros, whom I also find odious and evil. Most Americans, regardless of party, agree with her distaste for Maduro. But leaving Maduro’s vice president in charge didn’t solve the problem of dictatorship, nor does it support democracy.
For the President to ignore the “Gang of Eight” (majority and minority leaders of both Houses, and leading members of Congressional Intelligence Committees) who have traditionally conferred with the president during any international military operation, is a clear breach of checks and balances. These limitations on the power of the executive branch are the very basis of our Constitution.
Clearly, we are living in a time when the President believes that the only check on his power comes from his personal sense of morality—his own words.
I will end this column by agreeing with my relative’s statement: “I can’t follow that crowd. Far right and far left have taken over the news and FOX and MSNBC are raking it in with entertainment seeking followers.” I would add that all three branches are dysfunctional and that the legacy media is afraid to challenge our president.
My perspective is that there is a time when fear of the end of our democracy is real. We are in such a time now. I can’t predict the future, but the trajectory of our current president should lead to his third impeachment or use of the 25th Amendment to remove him from office for his incapacity to govern. We are at a crossroads, no matter what your perspective about current events.
